ROCKINGHAM — A group of Realtors from the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors recently traded contracts and closing tables for scrapers and work gloves, spending nearly an entire day helping Richmond County Rescue Mission prepare its cafeteria for a much-needed renovation.
The volunteers took on one of those projects that sounds simple until the work actually begins: preparing the cafeteria walls for a fresh coat of paint.
Years of old, deteriorating paint had to be scraped from the walls before repainting could begin. It was a labor-intensive job that required hours of persistent work, and members of the association stayed with it throughout the day, helping the Rescue Mission complete a project that would have otherwise required considerable staff time and expense.
The service project was coordinated with Melissa Holt of the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors, whose members primarily serve communities throughout the Sandhills and surrounding region.
For Richmond County Rescue Mission Executive Director Matthew Davis, the significance of the day went well beyond freshly prepared walls.
“We are incredibly grateful for what these Realtors did for us,” Davis said. “This wasn’t a project where someone stopped by for an hour and took a picture. They came prepared to work, and they worked hard. Scraping those walls was tedious, dirty and laborious, and they stayed with it practically the entire day. That kind of service means a great deal to us.”
The group also made a financial contribution to Richmond County Rescue Mission, extending its support beyond the volunteer labor provided that day.
“Every dollar we don't have to spend on a project like this is a dollar that can remain focused on helping people,” Davis said. “When a community partner gives us both their resources and their time, the impact is multiplied. We want the members of the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors to know that their work was noticed, it was needed and it was deeply appreciated.”
Richmond County Rescue Mission operates from the Place of Grace Campus in Rockingham and serves individuals facing homelessness, addiction and other difficult circumstances. Its work includes residential and transitional services as well as outreach efforts designed to help individuals move toward stability and independence.
The cafeteria is an important part of that work. It is a place where residents and community members gather around the table, meals are served and relationships are built. Preparing the room for renovation is another step toward maintaining a welcoming and dignified environment for the people the Rescue Mission serves.
Based in Southern Pines, the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors represents hundreds of real estate professionals throughout the region. Community involvement and charitable giving are part of the association's stated mission, and Davis said the group's recent work in Rockingham demonstrated that commitment in a very practical way.
“Sometimes community service is writing a check, and sometimes it's picking up a scraper and spending the day doing something that simply needs to be done,” Davis said. “They did both. We couldn't ask for a better example of neighbors helping neighbors.”
Richmond County Rescue Mission extends its sincere thanks to Melissa Holt and every member of the Mid Carolina Regional Association of Realtors who participated in the project and contributed to the organization.
Their work will remain visible long after the new paint goes on the walls.
